Tool for tying wire

ABSTRACT

A handtool for wire tying of reinforcing bars or the like is equipped with means to avoid bunching or piling of the convolutions of the tie on top of one another. Shiftable, springloaded plates on one end of the body of the tool are shifted by the ends of the wire loop during twisting such as to move the body away from the bars and leave sufficient clearance for the formation of an elongated tie with the convolutions wound spirally in side-by-side relationship, closely resembling a plier-made twist.

United States Patent m1 3,590,885

[72] Inventor James E. Ward 3,169,559 2/1965 Working 140/119 984 Seco St.,Pnsadena,Celil.91103 3,211,187 /1965 Paul eta1...... 140/93.6 [21] Appl. No. 846,416 3,245,434 4/1966 Collins et al. l/93.6 [22] Filed July 31,1969 3,323,558 6/1967 Collins 140/93.6 Patented July 6, 1971 3,391,440 7/1968 Harms 140/93.2 Continuation-impart of application Ser- No. 3,391,715 7/1968 Thompson.... 140/93.6 758,263, Sept. 9, 1968- 3,428,096 2/1969 Krylov et a1. l40/93.6 3,494,385 2/1970 Hanigan 140/93.6 Primary Examiner-Richard Herbst [54] TOOL FOR TYlNG WIRE Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs 10 Chims 2 Drawing Figs. Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Willimas [52] US. Cl 140/93.6, l40/ll9,l40/l20 [51 1 lnt.Cl 82119/02, ABSTRACT; A handtoo] for wire tying f i f i bars or BZlflS/OO Bun/00' 15/04 the like is equipped with means to avoid bunching or piling of Field of Search /31; the convomtions f the tie on top f one another shift bl /93 l I l9, spring-loaded plates on one end of the body of the tool are shifted b the ends of the wire loo durin twisting such as to [56] References cued move ml: body away from the bars aid leave sufi'lcient UNITED STATES PATENTS clearance for the formation of an elongated tie with the con- 1,320,515 11/1919 Warwick 140/93 volutions wound spirally in side-by-side relationship, closely 2,943,650 7/ 1960 Rubin 140/1 19 resembling a plier-made twist.

PATENIEU JUL slsn 3,590,885

sum 1 BF 3 INVENTOR. James E. Wand A TTORMEVS.

TOOL FOR TYING WIRE This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 758,263 filed Sept. 9, 1968 and entitled "Powered Wire Tying Tool."

An aim of this invention is to improve upon the tie made by wire-tying tools such that the twist in the ends of the wire loop is comparable to that made by hand through use of a pair of pliers.

Another aim of my present invention is to utilize shiftable plates on one end of the tool body in such manner as to be slidably engaged by the wire ends of the loop, resulting in pushing the body away from the object being tied, thereby avoiding an unsatisfactory tie such as one where the convolutions wrap around one another rather than elongate out into a spiral twist as is desired.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is an end elevational view of a powered wire-tying tool made pursuant to my present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken on lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the bulkhead and adjustable dial removed from within the tubular body of the tool;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. I showing pusher plates on the tool body for producing the improved twist of the tie;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the tool as shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tool as shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the U6.

A tubular body 10 has a hollow, pistol grip handle 12 provided with an air inlet 14 and an aperture 16 for flow of air to a valve chamber 18. A valve 20, reciprocable in chamber 18, has a pair of bands 22 associated with ports 24 and 26, and a pair of bands 28 associated with ports 30 and 32. Ports 24 and 30 communicate with a cylinder 34 on opposite sides of a piston 36, whereas ports 26 and 32 discharge to the atmosphere.

Pins 38 and 40, rigid to valve 20, extend through ports 24 and 30 respectively within the path of travel of piston 36, and pin 38 couples with a link 42 reciprocably carried by handle 12. A trigger 44 extending into port 26 is yieldably biased away from handle 12 by a spring 46 on its pivot 48, and has a releasable connection with link 42 by a cross pin 50 biased into groove 52 oflink 42 by a spring 54.

Cylinder 34 extends between a plug 56 and a bulkhead 58 which is in turn rotatable on a tube 60 that rotates within bearings 62 and 63. A stem 64 rigid to piston 36 has a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinal grooves 66 which receive a pair of keys 68 within bulkhead 58. Stem 64 is also provided with helical grooves 70 that receive four keys 72 within tube 60 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

The extent of rotation of bulkhead 58 clockwise (viewing FIG. 6) is limited by its lug 74 engaging a stop 76, and anticlockwise by lug 74 engaging a lug 78 (FIG. 7) on a dial 80 that is rotatable on tube 60. lndicia 82 on dial 80 may be viewed through a window 84 during rotation of dial 80 by manipulation of a knob 86 secured to a threaded cross shaft 88 which meshes with threads 90 on dial 80. Hub 92 of dial 80 is externally threaded, meshing with a nut 94 secured to body 10 by a fastener 96, causing bulkhead 58, bearing 63, dial 80 and tube 60 to reciprocate axially of body 10 during manipulation of knob 86.

A sleeve 98 reciprocable on tube 60 is held against rotation relative thereto by a stud 100 extending into a slot 102. The outer end of sleeve 98 has an internal beveled surface 104 forming one jaw of a chuck 106. A second jaw of chuck 106 includes a plug 108 secured to tube 60 and provided with a cap 110 freely rotatable on a stud 112 within plug 108. Surface 104 terminates in an annular cutting edge 114 which may be serrated if desired, as shown.

A gear 116 and a piston 118 are rigid to sleeve 98 for rotation and reciprocation therewith, piston 118 being within a cup 120 rigid to tube 60. A spring 122 yieldably biases sleeve 98 inwardly, stud 100 holding piston 118 against movement into covering relation to air passages 124 in tube 60.

A rotatable reel 126 for a coil 128 of wire 130 is releasably attached to an arm l32removably secured to body 10. Wire 130 is fed through a tubular guide 134 that is in turn disposed between a pair of peripherally grooved and serrated wire feeding discs 136 and 138. Guide 134 has side openings 140 into which the discs 136 and 138 extend to receive wire 130 and direct the same toward chuck 106. Disc 138 is driven in one direction from gear 116 through a gear 142 coupled with shaft 144 through an overrunning clutch 146.

Wire 130 emerges from guide tube 134 within the path of cutting edge 114 and is directed by the wire feeder 136, 138 between jaws 104 and 110. Wire 130 then strikes an anvil 148, forms into a loop around an object to be tied, and passes again between jaws 104 and 110, the free end 152 of wire 130 striking an elongated wear plate 154 disposed in spaced, tangential relationship to cap 110. Anvil 148 has a wire-receiving groove 156 and is adjustable laterally within slot 158 upon manipulation of knob 160. A plurality of rods 162 on body 10 aid in positioning the tool properly with respect to the crossed reinforcing members, or the like to be tied.

OPERATION Air inlet 14 is initially coupled with a compressed air line (not shown), the airflow to chamber 18 via aperture 16 being stopped by inner bands 22 and 28. The tool is then positioned by the aid of rods 162 so that the loop 150 passes around the object to be tied.

Actuation of trigger 44 shifts valve 20 rearwardly, closing port 32, opening port 24 to place cylinder 34 into communication with port 26, and opening port 30, permitting air to flow from chamber 18 to cylinder 34 between piston 36 and plug 56.

If lug 74 is clamped between lug 78 and stop 76, so that keys 68 in grooves 66 hold stem 64 against rotation, movement of piston 36 toward bulkhead 58 will cause stem 64 to rotate tube 60 in one direction through grooves 70 and keys 72 as stem 64 moves into tube 60. Sleeve 98 will also rotate by virtue of stud 100, driving gear 116 and therefore gear 142 to rotate feeder disc 138.

By the time piston 36 reaches bulkhead 58, loop 150 will have been formed as shown in FIG. 1. As piston 36 approaches bulkhead 58, it will strike pin 38, shifting valve 20 forwardly. Link 42 will project through trigger 44 as groove 52 passes out of engagement with pin 50. Bands 28 will move to place cylinder 34 into communication with the atmosphere through ports 30 and 32, and bands 22 will close port 26 as well as admit air from chamber 18 to cylinder 34 via port 24.

Air between piston 36 and bulkhead 58 will enter tube 60 around stem 64 and via grooves 66 and 70, flowing into cup 120 from passages 124. Piston 118 will shift sleeve 98 outwardly as stub 100 slides in slot 102 causing gear 116 to slide relative to gear 142.

This causes cutter 114 to shear wire 130 across the proximal end of guide 134, presenting a second end of loop 150 on that side of plug 108 diametrically opposed to loop end 152. Sleeve 98 continues to move outwardly by virtue of the air pressure between piston 118 to cup 120 until chuck 106 operates to clamp the ends of loop 150 between jaws" I04 and 110.

At this moment the air pressure between bulkhead 58 and piston 36 commences to drive the latter toward plug 56, the

return movement of stem 64 causing rotation of tube 60 in the opposite direction. The rotating chuck 106 will twist the wire ends of loop 150 tightly around the object surrounded by loop 150. Because of the clutch 146 retrograde rotation of disc 138 elements 208 and 214 respectively, camming the corresponding plates 200 and 204 outwardly of body 10' and toward the bars 230. Inasmuch as the plates 200 and 204 are against the bars 230 by the action of the operator when he places the tool will not occur during the wire-twisting rotational movement of in position for tying hmugh use of guide rods 162', Such sleeve 98.

As piston 36 approaches plug 56 it engages pin 40, closing ports 30 and 32 and opening ports 24 and 26, whereupon spring 122 returns sleeve 98 t0 the position shown in FIG. 2. Upon release of trigger 44, spring 46 will cause pin 50 to reseat in groove 52.

Smaller wire loops 150 may be formed by manipulation of knob 86 to rotate dial 80 through shaft 88 and threads 90. This moves lug 78 away from lug 74 so that bulkhead 58 may rotate to an extent equal to the distance between stop 76 and lug 78. Hence, as piston 36 commences its movement away from plug 56, no rotative motion will be imparted to tube 60 as piston 36, stem 64 and bulkhead 58 rotate, moving lug 74 against lug 78. During such movement of piston 36 away from plug 56, no wire is fed by the feeder 136, 138 to the guide structure 134, 148 and 154.

The smaller diameter loop 150 resulting from delay in rotation of disc 138 also requires repositioning of chuck 106. As dial 80 is rotated to increase the distance between stop 76 and lug 78, hub 92, rotating in nut 94, shifts jaws 104 and 110 inwardly, placingjaw 110 closer to anvil 140.

Essentially the same tool as above described is illustrated in FIGS. 8-11 of the drawings, showing the body the handle 12, and the reel 126 for the coil 128 of the wire 130 attached to body 10 by the arm 132. Illustrated also is the cap 110' of the chuck 106', the three rods 162, and the anvil 148.

Two of the rods 162 mount a plate member 200 on body 10'. The third rod 162' coacts with a fastener 202 to mount a second plate member 204 on body 10'. Plates 200 and 204 are shiftable or tiltable on rods 162 and fastener 202 toward and away from body 10' but biased outwardly into a common plane by resilient washers 206 or other spring means between each plate 200,204 and the body 10.

Plate 200 has an inwardly extending, triangular portion or element 208 provided with a beveled cam edge 210 facing the body 10' and terminating at the pointed terminus 212 of element 208. Similarly, plate 204 has an inwardly extending, triangular portion or element 214 provided with a beveled cam edge 216, aligned with edge 216 facing the body 10' and terminating at the pointed terminus 218 of element 214.

The two rods 162' which support the plate 200 also mount a flat bracket 220 onto body 10' which has an elongated deflector 222 extending laterally therefrom and bent back toward the body 10'. Another flat bracket 224 behind the plate 204 is mounted on the body 10' by use of the rod 162 and the fastener 202 which support plate 204. Bracket 224 has a triangular deflector 226 extending laterally therefrom between the plates 200 and 204 in alignment with the deflector 222.

In the same manner as above described with respect to the tool as shown in FIGS. 1-7, the Wire 1132 is fed from chuck 106 against the anvil 148', thereby forming the loop 228 (FIG. 12) around reinforcing bars 230 before returning to the chuck 106. Normally the wire 132' passes initially between edge 210 and deflector 226 without engaging either, but the deflector 226 guides the wire 132' into the loop formation in the event wire 132' comes into engagement with the deflector 226.

By the same token, wire 132' passes between but does not engage either the edge 216 or the deflector 222 as wire 132 returns to chuck 106' after forming the loop 228. But if wire 132' should contact deflector 222 the latter will guide it properly to the chuck 106.

As soon as the twisting commences, the ends of loop 228 come into engagement with the beveled edges 210 and 216 of deflection of the plates 200 and 204 will shift the tool away from bars 230. This provides sufficient clearance between the chuck 106 and the bars 230 to produce a satisfactory, elongated tie 232 of the kind shown in FIG. 12.

It is noteworthy that the wire ends are twisted or wound spirally around each other, presenting a series of side-by-side convolutions comparable to a plier-made twist, as distinguished from a tie wherein the convolutions pile up on one another closely adjacent the bars 230, as is the case when there is insufficient space between chuck 106' and bars 230.

During twisting, the wire ends slide along the edges 210 and 216 until they slipoff the termini 212 and 218, after which the elements 208 and 214 are no longer confined within the loop 228 and the tool can easily be retracted for use in the next operation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wire-tying tool:

a body;

means carried by the body for feeding a wire and forming a loop about an object to be tied;

means carried by the body for twisting the ends of the loop so formed, thus to attach the loop to said object; and object-engaging means on the body responsive to the operation of said twisting means for shifting the body away from the object during the twisting of said ends to cause the latter to wind spirally around each other into an elongated tie having a series of side-by-side convolutions.

2. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim I, said object-engaging means being shiftably mounted on the body and disposed for movement away from the body by said ends during twisting of the latter.

3. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 2,

said object-engaging means including an element disposed for engagement by each of said ends respectively.

4. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 3,

said elements having cam edges slidably engaged by said ends during twisting of the latter.

5. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1,

said object-engaging means including a pair of members shiftably mounted on the body and disposed for movement away from the body by said ends during twisting of the latter,

each member having an element around which the loop is formed and disposed for engagement by each of said ends respectively,

said elements having spaced termini for clearing said tie as the latter is formed.

6. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 5', and

resilient means yieldably biasing said members toward the body.

7. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 5,

said elements having cam edges terminating at said termini and slidably engaged by said ends during twisting of the latter.

8. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 7,

said elements comprising triangular portions of said members having corners forming said termini,

said edges being in alignment.

9. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 8,

said edges being beveled on those surfaces of said portions which face the body.

10. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 9; and

resilient means interposed between the members and the body for yieldably biasing the members toward the body. 

1. In a wire-tying tool: a body; means carried by the body for feeding a wire and forming a loop about an object to be tied; means carried by the body for twisting the ends of the loop so formed, thus to attach the loop to said object; and object-engaging means on the body responsive to the operation of said twisting means for shifting the body away from the object during the twisting of said ends to cause the latter to wind spirally around each other into an elongated tie having a series of side-by-side convolutions.
 2. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, said object-engaging means being shiftably mounted on the body and disposed for movement away from the body by said ends during twisting of the latter.
 3. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 2, said object-engaging means including an element disposed for engagement by each of said ends respectively.
 4. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 3, said elements having cam edges slidably engaged by said ends during twisting of the latter.
 5. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, said object-engaging means including a pair of members shiftably mounted on the body and disposed for movement away from the body by said ends during twisting of the latter, each member having an element around which the loop is formed and disposed for engagement by each of said ends respectively, said elements having spaced termini for clearing said tie as the latter is formed.
 6. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 5; and resIlient means yieldably biasing said members toward the body.
 7. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 5, said elements having cam edges terminating at said termini and slidably engaged by said ends during twisting of the latter.
 8. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 7, said elements comprising triangular portions of said members having corners forming said termini, said edges being in alignment.
 9. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 8, said edges being beveled on those surfaces of said portions which face the body.
 10. In a wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 9; and resilient means interposed between the members and the body for yieldably biasing the members toward the body. 